Curtain operating means



June v6, 1939. w. c. RAAPKE 2,161,382

CURTAIN OPERATING MEANS Filed March l5, 1937 nnentor WM.C RAAPKE gnome!! Patented June'6, l1939 y v "1 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y l' t 2,161,382, ,t

CURTAIN rOPERATING MEANS William C. Raapke. ornent, Netr. 1 Application March 15, 1937, Serial No.- 130,892

1 Claim. (Cl. 156-21) This invention relates to curtain operating ing a connection with suitable fasteners 29 which means and more particularly to means for the are secured to the curtain, and since each fastener support and operation of stage curtains. The 29 and swivel will be disposed in a vertical plane, objects of the invention, broadly, are to provide any swinging movement of the curtain due to 5 improvements in the track, the use of axleany cause, will be resisted. 1S

mounted double rollers and traction therefor, 'I'he fasteners 29 for the curtain are disposed noiseless movements of the hangers when the at uniform distances apart, and the cord or pullcurtains yare moved, and maintenance of the rope 26 slidably engages in the tubular sections. hangers in vertical planes midway between the The single primary hanger is indicated at B l0` double rollers. The invention also includes a (Figs. 2 and 3) and consists, in part, of four 10 primary roller of such construction that lateral or wheels 20 arranged in pairs, the wheels of each longitudinal movements may be avoided, and inpair being the same in all respects as the Wheels cludes stabilized mountings for the pulleys. o-r rollers 20 of the secondary hangers. The

Minor objects include the use of parts which axles for the primary hanger are indicated at maybe conveniently manufactured, disassembled, 2|. and each aXle 2|' iS provided mid-Way be- 15 and will be practical in operation. f tween its ends with an arm 22.

The invention consists of the new and useful These arms 22 are provided between their ends construction, combination and arrangement of with recesses 23' for receiving the pull-rope 26,

vparts as described herein and claimed, and as and are provided with eyes 24 at their ends for v illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being receiving swivel-hooks 2l, staples 30 being used 20 understood that changes may be made in form, for securing the arms 22 to the pull-rope.

size, proportions and minor details as found to It will be noted that each arm 22 and the pullbe of advantage, said changes being within the rope 2.6 are disposed in a vertical plane, Said plane scope o-f the invention as claimed. being in line with points on the axles midway be- 25 In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a View of the inventween the pairs of wheels or rollers 20 which, to- 25 tion in side elevation, the curtain being broken gether with the fact that four Wheels are used, away. provides a construction of great advantage for Fig 2 is a, side View of the singlevprimary operation. Since this primary hanger must sushanger and Fig. 3 is an end View of the same. tain severe stresses, especially when the curtain Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, is mO-Ved to closed or folded position, it must be 30 of one of the roller bearings employed. provided with an adequate base to prevent undu- Referring now to the drawing for a more parlating movements either longitudinally or transticular description, I provide a horizontal, rectiversely of the track, and for that reason the axles linear track I5 adapted to be supported by chains 2l' and the coupling-strip 3| which connect the or other flexible elements IB to a ceiling or other two arms 22' are of adequate length. 35

overhead structure, said track being adapted to By referring to' Fig. 2 0f the drawing it will be support rollers'2ll moving thereon, each roller 20 seen that the lower end-portions of the arms 22 being provided with a downwardly projecting arm are disposed outwardly inclined relative to each or hanger 22. other so that the end-portion of the curtain, 40 Numerals 25 indicate buffer elements preferduring operation, may be under suitable control, 40

ably consisting of short sections of rubber hose the distance apart for the eyes 24 being greater 0r elastic tubing each SeCtiOn 25 being Secured t0 than the distance from each other of the axles; an armor hanger 22 t0 permit aable 01 P1111- and as shown in Fig. 1, it w111 be seen that the rope 26 to move freely therethrough, the length hanger B is of such proportions that the folds of each elastic buffer-section being greater than for the curtain 23 ma 45 y be spaced apart at uniform liendmdlft rlgdznsitit gllerllsu; distances if desired. Numeral 32 indicates the metallic parts of one hanger will not strike oplrllllylrhlclh lis laly mounted at .33' against the metallic parts or wheels of an adw H11 g' o. .e rawmg. a Spacmg jacent hanger and objectionable shocks and noise means 1s @I np Dyed Conslstmg of flemme strands 50 may be avoided A. 44, each disposed between and attached at its y Numerals 21 indiooto smvo1 hooks which my ends to two adjacent arms 22 of the hangers, be detachably mounted in apertures which are each strand being of lesser length than the disformed in the lower ends of the arms 22y for tance apart 0f tWO adjacent fasteners 29, this 55. supporting the curtain 2B, said swivel-hooks havfeature tending to cause a wavey condition of 55 the curtain and avoiding a flat appearance.

The ball or roller bearing best shown in Fig. 4 consists of an outer bearing-ring 50, an inner bearing-ring 5I and balls or rollers 52 between said'rings, these parts being conned as a complete unit, indicated at C by an annular cap 53 which covers the periphery and one end of the bearing-rings 50 and 5| and also covers the annular slot 54 at one side of said unit,` that part of the slot 54 at the opposite side of theunit being uncovered; and at 55 is indicatedjthe opening in the inner bearing-ring for receiving the end of an axle.

Numeral 56 indicates a bracket intermediate"j the ends of the track I5 upon the ,topi and.*c:ei1 trally thereof, and secured theretofby.keepers` 51,

and any suitable number of such 'brackets may be used, depending upon the; length fof "the track,

and since these brackets are disposed midway between the sides of the track the movable parts will normally be disposed in operative position to resist swinging movements.

I claim as my invention:

In operating means for a. curtain provided in spaced relation with upwardly projecting fastening devices, the combination with a track, the roller-bearing hangers supported by the track and having arms attached to said fastening devices, and `Ithe pull-rope for moving 'the hangers to dispose the curtain in extendedl position, of a ofpsaid fastening-devices to cause the formation *er folds-menthe curtain is extended.

WILLIAM C. RAAPKE. 

